Page:History of the Fylde of Lancashire (IA historyoffyldeof00portiala).pdf/482

 Rawcliffe, with its courts, fishing in the Wyre, rents, etc., to Thomas Roe, whose only child and heiress married John ffrance, of Little Eccleston Hall. The only son and heir of John ffrance, of Rawcliffe and Little Eccleston, also called John, became lord of the manor on the decease of his father in 1774. He espoused Margaret, the daughter and heiress of — Rigg, of Lancaster, and, dying without issue, devised his property, after the death of his widow, to Thomas Wilson, of Preston, whose wife, the daughter of — Cross, of Shaw Hall, Chorley, was his nearest relative. Thomas Wilson assumed the surname of ffrance in addition to his own, and was succeeded, under the will of John ffrance, by his son, Thomas Robert Wilson-ffrance, who effected great improvements on the land by draining and re-covering the mosses, thereby increasing the value of the estate considerably. T. R. Wilson-ffrance died in 1853, and Rawcliffe descended to his only son, Robert Wilson-ffrance, who lived but six years afterwards, and bequeathed his estates to his sole offspring, Robert John Barton Wilson-ffrance, esq., at that time an infant, and now in possession. Rawcliffe Hall lies on the south of the township, in a park-like enclosure, leading to the banks of the river Wyre. The present mansion was built in the 17th century, but during more recent years has undergone material alterations. The remains of the Catholic chapel attached to it are situated at the rear.

The church of Out Rawcliffe was consecrated in 1837, and was erected by subscription and a donation from the late T. R. Wilson-ffrance, esq., who also gave the site, and retained the patronage. The style of architecture is said to resemble some portions of the ruins of Glastonbury Abbey, with a fine Norman arch over the west end. There are 250 sittings, of which 150 are free. The first incumbent was the Rev. W. Chadwick, who was succeeded by the Rev. Joshua Waltham. The Rev. James C. Home, M.A., is the third and present holder of the living.

There is a good day-school supported out of the Rawcliffe estate.

POPULATION OF OUT RAWCLIFFE.

1801. 1811.  1821.  1831.  1841.  1851.  1861.  1871. 413    484    598    575    728    791    771    832

The area in statute acres of Out Rawcliffe is 4,340.